Existentialism and the Purpose of Man

“Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.”

— Jean-Paul Sartre

On this journey through physical existence, we can easily become wrapped up in the notion that our impressions of this life are meant to be sustained. Indeed, our theories, writing, art, or whatever avenue of creativity you wander down will outlive you. The problem isn’t in the creation of things larger than ourselves the problem is in the glorification of it.

We place ourselves so highly on a pedestal of success throughout our lives. We frame our college degrees and place our trophies in cases to display to the world that we did these things. The oddity in this is that regardless of the recognition from others the tasks and goals accomplished do not change. We must all be so addicted to glory. I’m sure someone out there is took the biggest shit and they have the proof of it framed in their kitchen.

If you have ever played Runescape or World of Warcraft then you see the top players in these games that have dedicated massive amounts of time and energy into obtaining what most players will never and they show it off. Even in a fake reality, they are seeking glory from those around them. So, how does this differ from our physical reality? Will we be praised in the afterlife for climbing our way to the top of social ladders or creating the greatest works of art or literature?

The answer to that question is mundane. I’d rather explore the answer to the purpose of life while we are living.

Existentialism

This philosophy states that humans are not given inherent purpose or purpose from a source outside of themselves. You can argue that certain situations and events lead people to develop a purpose that they had little say in but that thought pattern would lead us to determinism. While external stimuli certainly do play a part in the development of individual purpose, it is the person who ultimately decides their actions.

Our decisions are reactions to the world around us and get filtered through a self-developed moral code. Many people derive their moral code from their respective religious beliefs. Though many religions, if not all, teach about goodwill, charity, and loving one another as you love yourself, many people follow these religious guidelines not for the sake of being a good person but for the sake of saving their eternal soul from damnation. If we commit our lives to good acts in hopes of an eternal reward then how are we to say that we are responsible for those acts?

Would we keep the same moral code without a promised reward or deterrent?

This, according to Jean-Paul Sartre, is exactly why free will is a burden to man.

I would agree to a certain extent with Sartre, mainly on the fact that uninfluenced free will would certainly be a burden for man. If we strip the world around us of any type of morality compass then what do our actions entail? We require the world to react to our input, every action we take serves a purpose with a goal in mind. So, the only way that our actions can truly be free would be to cut the strings that tie them to morality. Free will without morality would lead to rampant selfishness. Free will tied to morality would damper our total control of action.

The Purpose of Man

Any answer to the question about our level of free will still can not answer the question of what our purpose is. If the answer is to find some individual meaning in life that formed solely within a single mind of man then what does one expect to gain or lose from social constructs?

If our life is revolved around the acquisition of rewards and the dopamine response to achievement then we are fighting against each other on who can flood their minds with the most happy chemicals and place the physical symbols of these achievements somewhere for all to see.

If the answer the acquisition of the dopamine response does not require any perceived level of achievement and no desire to seek glory in the satisfaction or positive judgment of others then it is the drug addict who has won the game of purpose. Who else is so inclined to produce large amounts of happy chemicals in the brain without the attachment of socially accepted goals? Does the one that just received their Ph.D. have more dopamine release than one that just shot up heroin?

So, where does the answer lie within you that is unattached to the judgment of others? If we can not act in this life with unobstructed action from external stimuli then the purpose of our lives is directly influenced and dependent on the socially accepted goals of the world around us.

Thank you for reading. Peace and love to you and yours.

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